Cargo bracing means for railway freight cars



3 R W. max

CARGO BRACING MEANS FOR RAILWAY FREIGHT rams May 3% 4 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed July 5, 1947 ///AIV// INVENTOR. 1506008 74. 60.23,

may 3% 19511: R. w. gm 2,509,966

CARGO BRACING MEANS FOR RAILWAY FREIGHT CARS Filed July 5,' 1947 W 4Sheets-Sheet 2 KO f 3 a a a "Q N 0| \Q\]\ N J l Q g 4 g 2 S i i w! .5

IN V EN TOR.

May 3 0, 1950 R. W. cox

CARGO BRACING MEANS FOR RAILWAY FREIGHT CARS i Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed July5, 1947 I INVENVTOR.

Jihad/62W C055,

May 3% 1950 R. W. cox 9 9 CARGO BRACING MEANS FOR RAILWAY FREIGHT CARSFiled Jul 5, 1947 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. %5coe 144 C01,

Patented May 30, 1950 OFFICE CARGO BRACING lVIEAN S FOR RAILWAY FREIGHTCARS Roscoe W. Cox, Rensselaer, N. Y.

Application July 5, 1947, Serial No. 759,255

9 Claims.

The invention relates to railway freight cars and particularly to meansto protect a lading in such cars by providing means to retain suchlading in place after it has been stored in the car.

An object of the invention is to provide a construction or device whichmay be used to extend crosswise of the car to prevent the lading fromshifting lengthwise of the car, or may be used to extend across adoorway (or the doorways) of the car to prevent the lading from shiftingsidewise of the car against the door (or doors) of the car, thus causingsuch doors to bind and become inoperative. A further object of theinvention is to form such construction or device that parts thereof maybe used to prevent lengthwise shifting of the lading whilesimultaneously preventing sidewise shifting of the lading.

A further object of the invention is to provide such a construction ordevice comprising a plurality of flexible cables extendable crosswise ofthe car from side to side thereof or over one or both of the doorways ofthe car and wherein some of said cables may extend crosswise of the carwhile at the same time other of such cables extend over one or both ofthe doorways.

Another object of the invention is to provide means to equalize thetension on the several cables while extending across the car and/oracross a doorway, which last mentioned means also allows one cable toslightly yield under lateral pressure until the adjacent cables comeinto play and assist the cable under lateral stress to carry the load.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a plurality ofboards having interfitting edges, which boards are provided with meanscooperating with said cables to hold said boards against the door postand thereby provide an efiective easily removable grain door whenrequired.

Another object of the invention is to provide receptacles to store thecables when not in use, which receptacles are so positioned as not tointerfere with the lading space of the car nor interfere with theloading or unloading of the car through either of the doorways.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic horizontal cross section of a railway carshowing my invention applied thereto with the lading protectorsextending between the door posts on the same side of the car.

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 except that the lading protectorsextend between the door posts on the opposite sides of the car.

Figure 3 is a horizontal cross section through a part of the side wallof a car including the doorway showing an anchor post and a windingpost.

Figure 4 is a side elevation of part of a car with the lining removedfor clarity and showing the anchor post and winding post each partiallyin section to show the elements contained therein.

Figure 5 is a horizontal section through an anchor post showing mylading protector and associated parts.

Figure 6 is a vertical section through part of an anchor postconstruction showing parts of my lading protector.

Figure 7 is a side elevation of the anchor post bracket shown in Figure6.

Figure 8 is a section on line 88 of Figure '7.

Figures 9, 10 and 11 show the ratchet and pawl construction at thebottom of each winding shaft wherein- Figure 9 is a broken sideelevation thereof;

Figure 10 is a section on line I0l0 of Figure 9 and Figure 11 is asectional elevation of the lower end of Figure 9.

Figure 12 shows the swivel arrangement at the top of each winding shaft.

Figure 13 is a transverse section on line l3|3, Fig. 4 through a windingpost construction showing the slidable movement of the vertical cable tothe winding shaft.

Figure 14 is a perspective view of the invention showing a means ofholding a grain door in position against the door posts.

My lading protector comprises a plurality of horizontally disposedvertically spaced cables 2 which are stored in a plurality of tubularcontainers or pipes 3 when not in use, which containers are spacedslightly inclined within the side walls 4 of the car. These cables maybe extended across the doorway; that is, between the anchor postconstruction 5 and winding post construction 6 on the same side of thecar, as shown in Figure 1, to prevent the lading from shifting againstthe car door, or these cables 2 may be extended crosswise of the car;that is, between an anchor post construction 5 and a winding postconstruction 6 in the opposite sides of the car, as shown in Figure 2,to prevent the lading from shifting lengthwise of the car or some of thecables mayextend across one or both doorways 8 while simultaneouslyother cables may extend crosswise of the car. A conventiona1 door for acar is shown partially broken away and in partially closed position at 9in Figure 4.

Each anchor post construction is shown in detail in Figures 5, 6, 'I and8, and comprises an angular door post l0 and an angular casing securedtogether at 2 and I3 to cooperate as a hollow vertical post. Thecontainers 3, preferably comprising pipes, extend through the door postl0 and are secured thereto by weldment l4. These containers 3 are alsopreferably secured to and partially supported by the side Wall framingposts I! and I8, as shown in Figure 3. An anchor bracket is secured -totheicasing II by the rivets 2| opposite each container 3, which bracketis provided with a pocket 22 for the reception of the hook 23 on the endof the cable 2, which pocket 22 is deep enough so that the hook 23 willnot project into the doorway 8. The rear wall 26 of the pocket isprovided with a key hole slot 21. The door post l0 and the casing II arebothsecured to the side sill and side late (not shown) "of the car inthe usual manner.

A-pair of stops 55 and 56 are provided on each cable, the stops 56 beinof smaller diameter than that'of "the stops .55 so that when it isdesired to extend the cables 2 transversely of the car, as shown inFigure 2, said stops 56 may be passed through the large part of keyholeslot 21, and the cablewithdrawn from the container 3 until the largerdiameter stop 55 abuts against rear wall 26 of the bracket Stops '55 arepositioned on the cables to allow sufficient length thereof to extendacross the car.

When the cables are to extend across the doorway, stops 5% would engagethe narrower part of keyhole slot 2] and prevent more than a sufficientlength of cable to extend across doorway being withdrawn from thecontainer 3.

Each winding post construction 6, as shown in Figure 13, comprises adoor post 30 and a casing 3| secured thereto at 32 and 33 to cooperateas a vertical post. The winding and equalizing shaft 34 is containedwithin and protected by the post 3!] and casing 31. The upper end of theshaft 34 is ,pivotally held in place by the swivel plate 35 which issecured to the car in any convenient manner; for instance, by rivets orbolts passing through the holes 33. (See Figure 12.) The lower end ofthe shaft 34 is pivotally supported by the base plate 33, as shown inFigures 9, 10 and 11. This base plate 39 is secured to the car ,in anyconvenient manner; for instance, by rivets or bolts passing through theholes 40. A ratchet 4| is secured to the lower end of the shaft 34 whichactually supports the shaft upon the base plate. The teeth of theratchet 4| are engageable with the pawl 42 which is also mountedupon thebase plate 39 by the bolt 43. The pawl 42 is provided with a finger grip44 for release of the pawl from the outside of the car.

The winding shaft 34 is provided with a vertical cable '4"! (see Figures4 and 13) extending substantially the length of the shaft 34 with theopposite ends thereof rigidly secured to the shaft,

as at 48; At several places intermediate the ends of the shaft :34 thevertical cable 41 is slidably secured to the shaft by the staples 48, asshown in Figures 4 and 13. Casing 3| is cut away, as at 49, eachoccurring approximately midway between each pair of staples 48, so thatthe hooks 23 may pass therethrough and engage cable 41.

Toqprevent any-material deflection of the windin post-34, a plurality ofcircular spaced cable guide :bearing :rin s may be secured to windingpost 34 concentrically therewith, they being in diameter just sufficientto be able to rotate within the walls of the winding post construction6.

In the application of the invention shown in Figure 14, a plurality ofboards 50 having interfitting edges, such as shiplap, or tongued andgrooved boards, are provided and of a length to extend :between the doorposts of a car wall as a grain door, or to protect the car door if thelading is unusually heavy. A plurality of clips 5| are attached to eachboard, each clip having an outwardly extending hook 52, the hooks'of atleast the clips near the ends of each board hooking over one of thecables 2, and the hook of the center clip hooking under the said cable2, so

that the cable cannot easily become disengaged from the hooks. The hooksare not exactly in line with the cables when taut and are hooked oversaid cable when in slack position, so that when-drawn taut they willpull the boards tightly against the door posts and down so each graindoor board is held tight against each other and against the floor,thereby providing an effective grain door when needed, and one that maybe used over and over again. The direction of the hooks may be reversed,as is obvious without affecting the functioning of the invention.

The operation of the device is as follows:

When it is desired to' extend one, some or all of the cables 2 acrossthe doorway 8 the desired cables are pulled by means of the hooks 23 outof the containers 3 and the hooks are hooked over the vertical cable 41,as shown in Figures 3 and 4. At about the same time the short stops 50,engage the anchors 20, asshown in Figure 4. Each shortstop 50 is toosmall to pass through the lower part 5| of the keyhole slot 21 but issmall enough to pass through the large part thereof;

(See Figure '7.) The winding shaft 34 is then rotated by means of a barprojecting into one of the apertures 53, whereupon the cable 2 are notonly partially Wound upon the shaft 34 but due to the slidability of thevertical cable 41 the tension upon the several cables is equalized sothat they all work in unison to resist any horizontal thrust imposedupon them. When it is desired to release the tension .upon the cables.(and return them to their containers) the pawl 42 is trippl d.

When it is desired to extend one or more of the cables crosswise of thecar the hooks 23 are engaged with the vertical cable 41 on the windingshaft across the car, as shown in Figure 2. To do this the cable ismoved upwardly so that the short stop '50 will pass through the largepart 52 of the keyhole slot 21. (See Figures 6 and 7.) At about the timethe hooks 23 are engageable with the vertical cable across the car thelarge stop 55engages the anchor 20. (See Figure 5.) Thelarge stop 55will not'pass through any part of the keyhole slot 21. The anchor 20 ispro videdwith a rounded shoulder 56 to ease the bending of the cable 2.Figure 5 shows in dotted lines (51) the cable going across the doorway.Note the small stops 56 in Figure 2.

When it is desired to associate a grain door across the doorway with thecables when extended across a doorway, the bottom board is placed inpositioniacross the doorway and the adjacent cable interlaced under andover the hooks to hold the same in place. Then the next succeeding boardis similarly placed across the doorway and its cable interlaced underand over the hooks of h a d, nd-so on until the desired height of graindoor is attained. Then, by manipulating the pawl and ratchet mechanism4| which rotates the winding shaft and draws the cables taut, which inturn holds the boards tightly in grain tight relation against the doorposts, I provide an effective grain door, or provide extra protection tothe car door from shifting of an unusually heavy lading.

When a car is to be unloaded, and the cables have been extended acrossthe car or across the doorway, hooks 23 are unhooked and the cablesmanually pushed back into containers or pipes 3.

The accompanying drawings illustrate the preferred form of theinvention, though it is to be understood that the invention is notlimited to the exact details of construction shown and described, as itis obvious that various modifications thereof, within the scope of theclaims, will occur to persons skilled in the art.

I claim:

1. A railway car cargo bracing means comprising an anchor post and awinding post, said posts adapted to be positioned adjacent oppositevertical edges of a doorway, vertically spaced cables extendable fromone post to the other, means for attaching said cable to said posts,means for rotating said winding post to tighten said cables, and meansfor releasably holding said cables in tightened position.

2. A railway car cargo bracing means comprising an anchor post and awinding post, said posts adapted to be positioned adjacent oppositevertical edges of a doorway, vertically spaced cables extendable fromone post to the other, means for attaching said cable to said posts,means for rotating said winding post to tighten said cables, means forstoring said cables when not in use adjacent one of said posts, andmeans for releasably holding said cables in tightened position.

3. A railway car cargo bracing means comprising an anchor post and awinding post, said posts adapted to be positioned adjacent oppositevertical edges of a doorway, vertically spaced cables extendable fromone post to the other, means for attaching said cable to said posts,means for rotating said winding post to tighten said cables, means forstoring said cables when not in use in a wall adjacent said anchor post,and means for releasably holding said cables in tightened position.

4. A railway car cargo bracin means comprising a pair of posts adaptedto be positioned adjacent opposite vertical edges of a doorway,vertically spaced cables extendable from one post to the other, meansfor attaching said cable to said posts, means for rotating one of saidposts to tighten said cables, and pawl and ratchet means for releasablyholding said cables in tightened position.

5. A structure substantially as set forth in claim 4, and means forstoring said cables when not in use in a wall adjacent one of saidposts.

6. A structure substantially as set forth in claim 4, and a grain dooradjacent and overlapping said posts, and means on said grain doorengageable with said cables to hold said grain door in position whensaid cables are tightened.

7. A cargo bracing means for a railway car having spaced walls, and adoorway and door in each wall, said means comprising anchor posts andwinding posts, an anchor post and a winding post adapted to bepositioned adjacent opposite vertical edges of said doorways, verticallyspaced cables extendable from an anchor post to a Winding post, meansfor removably attaching said cables to said posts, means for rotating awinding post to tighten said cables, and means for releasably holdingsaid cables in tightened position.

8. A cargo bracing means for a railway car having spaced walls, and adoorway and door in each wall, said means comprising anchor posts andwinding posts, an anchor post and a winding post adapted to bepositioned adjacent opposite vertical edges of said doorways, verticallyspaced cables extendable from an anchor post to a winding post, meansfor removably attaching said cables to said posts, means for rotatin awinding post to tighten said cables, means for storing said cablesadjacent said anchor posts, and means for releasably holding said cablesin tightened position.

9. A cargo bracin means for a railway car having spaced walls, and adoorway and door in each wall, said means comprising anchor posts andwinding posts, an anchor post and a winding post adapted to bepositioned adjacent opposite vertical edges of said doorways, verticallyspaced cables each extendable from an anchor post to a winding post,transversely or longitudinally of the car, means for removably attachingsaid cables to said posts, means for rotating a winding post to tightensaid cables, and means for releasably holding said cables in tightenedposi tion.

ROSCOE W. COX.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 994,822 Daly June 13, 19112,361,081 Brandon Oct. 24, 1944 2,389,777 Harris Nov. 27, 1945

